Portobello beach

_DSC4690, originally uploaded by SCrlt_pimpernel.

Today I decided to set myself a new project , to re look at places and areas I would normally disregard. Disregard either on the grounds of it's been shot to death or as a subject i found it disinteresting.

But today I thought bugger it and grabbed a tripod and my D700 and went out to the local beach in the city. Now me and a tripod is an interesting conundrum. I cant remember the last time I used one even to take a portrait, I normally find them a complete pain. Heavy to carry around, expensive(£200) and generally get in my way. I tend to shoot very photojourno, 2 cameras ,1 wide and 1 mid tele, with a double strap.

So needless to say I dont shoot much landscape. So I went out intending to shoot some B&W landscapes to take me away from my comfort zone. I played around with ND filters and grads, again stuff I've had for ages but never really used.

I bought most of the gear for landscapes when i went to college. All the filters/cp's all cokin P system stuff. When i took it out of the holders , dusty is being kind ! But It was fun to work in a different way than I'm used to. I was forced to slow down and look hard and got a couple of shots I quite like.

It all reminded me of what a smart man once said "life moves fast, you gota get off and look around once in a while or your going to miss it"
So my advice watch Ferris Beullers day off and then slow down and shoot something you wouldnt normally think is your kinda thing and hopefully like me be surprised and happy with what comes out.

For me It was nice to have just 1 camera the tripod and a fist full of filters. To have the time to visualize the shot and set it up , to not be whizzing in the moment and have to react like a caffinated mad man.

For those that shoot landscapes go out and shoot some street , for those that shoot the fast and furious ease down and grad your dusty tripod and slow down. Trust me even if you hate it , your mind will be grateful for the change of pace.